Why no Test Bikes to test before you Buy?

[kandui]

I am considering a 29er and checking out what's available in the local market. Not much by the looks of it as most Agents underestimated the demand and don't have enough stock. I am told some brands will only have new 29er stock available in 2012. Well Bully for them. I thought that if I was in the market for a top end FS 29er like the Specialized Epic S-Works at a cost of just under 80k, I might be afforded the option of giving the bike a good test ride, before parting with all that cash. How can I commit to such an obscene amount of money when all I can expect to do is bunny hop the bike off the pavement and maybe get lucky and ride up and down outside the shop for 5 minutes?

In my opinion this is a ridiculous situation. None of the shops or agents I called had a test bike available and actually the fact that I asked surprised them somewhat. I might as well order a bike from overseas, it's the same scenario, the only difference being that the same bike costs substantially less. S-Works 29er FS frameset cost R32000 in the US and R44k here. Bike parts are duty free and you can claim the Vat back overseas.

My dad bought a second hand Land Rover Defender this morning for 70k (less than the bike) and he got to take it for a lekker test spin around a few blocks!

How can anyone know what a bike feels like under your bum when you can only ride it for a few minutes, before having to make the buying decision?

Please enlighten me.

[Eddy Gordo]

I fully agree, I know of one maybe 2 shops that let you test drive bikes. However on comparison to the us and uk market, you certainly can test drive any bike. A friend of mine took a giant 29er for a test drive to tokai, I will find out for you from which store he got it.

[American Flyers]

Why don't you go to Bridgecycles? I hear that they have 4 demo bikes to try out...

[Tumbleweed]

I know Omnico have a couple of test bikes.

[Just Keep Pedaling]

You don't get to test ride a Specialized because you never really own a Specialized - think of it more like an elite club where you get to apply for membership and are accepted only if your father plays golf with the chairman.

Edited May 4, 2011 by Just Keep Pedaling

[Shebeen]

I've seen (and ridden) spesh test bikes before. Pretty sure it is in their business model to help sell their range.

 

Maybe they have sold out their entire stock already. All of a sudden it seems every dog and his horse wants a 3inch larger bike right now, so not surprised these guys didnt predict the demand.

[Guest Iron]

I agree , im looking for another mtb ( hard tail ) . to get a 26" is no problem but with all the 29" hype i would like to try one first , and not around the block , i want to go to Groenkloof and do a few hours on it then jump on my 26" and do my own comparison.

[splat]

It seems that there aren't enough 29'er bikes available to buy, let alone test...

 

Edit: a mate just told me that Willie Engelbrecht's got 4-5 29ers (Anthem, Scale, Bulls, Spez) which he's happy for people to trial

 

Some suppliers here got caught with their pants down or didn't expect such a huge demand (haven't been reading up on The Hub). Its irritating as their marketing is in full swing, but there are no bikes!

Edited May 4, 2011 by splat

[shova1]

Demand is such on the 29er's, that you are more likely see one at a local race rather than in a bike shop!

[rouxtjie]

Saw the LAB had some gary fisher's that you can test ride...at the bike park nogals. So if you decide against it, you at least had a spin around the park for free

[Eldron]

I agree , im looking for another mtb ( hard tail ) . to get a 26" is no problem but with all the 29" hype i would like to try one first , and not around the block , i want to go to Groenkloof and do a few hours on it then jump on my 26" and do my own comparison.

 

You should ask your pal Eldron for a decent ride on his spare 29er ;-)

[andretraut]

There is no need to test ride a Specialized bike, especially the Epic S-Works 29er. Buy it and ride it, you will not regret it! And if you shop around, you will be able to get the Epic SW FS 29er frameset locally for a fraction more than the US price at around R34K. If you really need more convincing, call Burry.

[kandui]

I think when a first shipment comes in there should always be a demo bike or two which can't be sold until they have been used for a certain amount of time. Same as with a demo car at a dealer,those get sold when they have done x amount of km. It gets my goat that we are asked to pay so much more for bikes locally than overseas (this applies to the brands I have looked at, can't speak for all), but have to accept that we can't test the material before we buy. If you buy and the bike is not the right fit (it probably takes about 4-5 rides of an hour or more to get used to a bike) the dealer is not likely to give you your money back. How about a demo weekend? If an agent gets a minimum or 4-5 inquiries for a bike in a week (via the shops), he sets up a ride on the weekend where bikes can be tested in a controlled environment.How much effort would that take? It won't be done, because the local agents probably work out how many bikes they need to sell in a year to cover their Camps Bay Bond, Private Schools and Mommie's Prado. This keeps demand high and guarantees orders for the following year's models.

[kandui]

By the way. check this link out: http://www.fun-corner.de/index.php?cat=WG000607&product=A006423

This is an online shop I have bought from a couple times. I ride one of the Rotwild FS Carbon bikes (see attached file) and it is a well thought through piece of machinery and I have had no major problems. They have a HT 29er out this year and the price looks pretty good considering the components. I am considering one of these and can import them with one of our containers. Should anybody feel this is a bike worth getting, I can arrange for shipping by sea at a very good rate to Cape Town. You buy the bike at shown cost ( I can get a discount) and a shipping fee which I will work out and put on the Hub.

Just a thought, not a business I want to get into. Check out the full range at www.rotwild.de

[Caerus]

It does seem rather crazy that you can't test a bike

[gummibear]

By the way. check this link out: http://www.fun-corner.de/index.php?cat=WG000607&product=A006423

This is an online shop I have bought from a couple times. I ride one of the Rotwild FS Carbon bikes (see attached file) and it is a well thought through piece of machinery and I have had no major problems. They have a HT 29er out this year and the price looks pretty good considering the components. I am considering one of these and can import them with one of our containers. Should anybody feel this is a bike worth getting, I can arrange for shipping by sea at a very good rate to Cape Town. You buy the bike at shown cost ( I can get a discount) and a shipping fee which I will work out and put on the Hub.

Just a thought, not a business I want to get into. Check out the full range at www.rotwild.de

 

Rotwild are huge in Germany.Every second bike in the Black forest is a Rotwild.

 

Good price and good spec.